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MIGRAINE
Health Care & Disease Control
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Most migraines
are without aura. However, Migraine aura without headache is also
quite common, and should be seen by
an ophthalmologist to rule out more serious patholgy
i.e. retinal detachment. Migraine without
aura is about twice as common as migraine with aura.
Migraine is diagnosed by determining whether some of a person's
recurrent headaches meet certain criteria.
HISTORY
Headache lasting approximately 4-72 hours.
The pain is unilaterall with
pulsating, and sometimes includes nausea and/or vomiting
. Of moderate or severe intensity, which interferes with
or prohibits normal daily activities.
The symptoms are aggravated
by walking up or down stairs or
other routine physical activity.
Usually including:photophobia
TRIGGERS
Caffeine,Tyramine,
Tyrosine. Excessive release of Arachidonic Acid
is a common trigger and is reversed by dietary adequacy of
omega-6 & omega-3 fatty-acids. The ratio should be 2:1 Copper is also a trigger
as is Serotonin, Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine. Caffeine is a very
common trigger and other triggers include but are not confined to : Dairy
products especially cheese, chocolate, onions, aspartame, citrus fruits, any
processed foods and food derivites. Giving credence tat least in part to the ABO Blood Type,
commonly met and excessively consumed avoidance foods must be considered. In the
female, menstruation may be a trigger.
One thing is certain migraine attacks where
pain is a symptom are the result of inflammation at the level of the PGE2
hormones. Migraine sufferers generally have a
high Helper T-Cells:
Suppressor T-Cells ratio.
TREATMENT
As with all chronic conditions, especially where allergy may be a causative
factor, "Leaky Gut" must be considered. The herb
Gingo Biloba is baseline therapy. Ginkgo Biloba has been shown in clinical
trials to improve or cure migraine headaches in 80% of persons. Gingko
certainly relieves and prevents the ocular migraine, which is without pain and
manifests as a saw-tooth flashing or brilliant shape usually in the peripheral
vision. Other treatment includes more problem specific supplements including
anti-inflammatories of which
ProResolvin is First line Therapy, neuromuscular support, marine lipids,
Phenolic Desensitization and food nosodes.
References:
· Titus, F., et al. 5-Hydroxytryptophan versus methysergide in the
prophylaxis of migraine. Randomized clinical trial. European Neurology.
25:327-329, 1986.
· De Benedittis, G., et al. 5-HT precursors in migraine prophylaxis: A
double-blind cross-over study with L-5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo.
Clinical Journal of Pain. 3:123-129, 1986.
· Koehler, S. M., et al. The effect of aspartame on migraine headache. Headache.
28:10-14, 1988.
· Herzog, A. G. Continuous bromocriptine therapy in menstrual migraine.
Neurology. 48(1):101-102, 1997.
· Harrison, D. P. Copper as a factor in the dietary precipitation of migraine.
Headache. 26(5):248-250, 1986.
· Gallai, V., et al. Magnesium content of mononuclear blood cells in migraine
patients. Headache. 34:160-165, 1994.
· Mauskop, A. Intravenous magnesium sulfate relieves migraine attacks in
patients with low serum ionized magnesium levels: A pilot study. Clinical
Science. 89: 633-636, 1995.
· Peikert, A., et al. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: Results from
a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized
study. Cephalalgia. 16:257-63, 1996.
· Ramadan, N. M., et al. Low brain magnesium in migraine. Headache. 29:590-593,
1989.
· Swanson, D. R. Migraine and magnesium: Eleven neglected connections. Perspect
Biol Med. 31:526-557, 1988.
· Claustrat, B., et al. Nocturnal plasma melatonin profile and melatonin
kinetics during infusion in status migrainosus. Cephalagia. 17(4):511-517, 1997.
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) and Migraine
· Gatto, G., et al. Analgesizing effect of a methyl donor (S-Adenosylmethionine)
in migraine: An open clinical trial. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 6:15-17, 1986.
· Cazzola, P., et al. In vivo modulating effect of a calf thymus acid lysate on
human T lymphocyte subsets and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the course of different
diseases. Curr Ther Res. 42:1011-1017, 1987.
· Gaby, A., et al. Nutrition Update. AANP 10th Annual Convention, Snowmass,
Colo., Oct. 11-15, 1995.
· Schoenen, J., et al. Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine
prophylaxis. A randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 50:466-470, 1998.
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